Milk and Silence

~ for Bingo ~ what do you see, dear little Bingothrough eyes full of milk?once dark and shinynow white and hazyeyes that into spaceeyes that obscure your souleyes that search the carpet in vainfor undropped biscuits? what do you hear withears full of silence?once perky and alertnow useless and deafears that function no moreears that …

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Master of Touch and Flow

Photo: Dad and Jim (his pet crow) at the water pump, early 1940s ~ for Richard Bedford Bennett ~ a Depression-era prairie child, you touched castles made of sand and grew up humbly on the land playing with quirky homemade toys when big-sky sunsets and sunrises pierced the distant flat horizons and phantom prairie winds …

Useless as Teats on a Bull!

ah, Springtime!sunshine, birds chirpingcrisp morning air, peace kissed Jane... later babe!happy day ahead!time for commute #1206 fired up Roddy'57 Chevy convertible!pulled out of the garagegathered speedlivin' large! yeah! uhh...what's that sound under the hood? sped up, louderslowed down, quieterstrange, eeriea thousand dollar sound back homeMike the mobile mechanicshrugged his shouldersfor ninety-five bucks phone rang.  Barry.“Where …

The Watery Path Not Taken

~~ Chasing the Rainbow ~~ (inspired by Jan LaFountain Melnik) two curves converged upon the distant shorewhere skinny pond engaged with bright rainbow...I knew a pot of gold would lie in store!to slosh through water, nothing pleased me more...but would the magic last? I didn’t know I wished that I could run that liquid trailbut …

It’s Your Day, Mom!

Happy Mother's Day, Mom!With Love and Gratitude! well Dad, he calls you Marillynbut I just call you Momand to your now-grown grandchildrenit's Nana you've becomeback when I was a naughty boyI'd drive you 'round the bendyou'd spank me with that wooden spoonbut love me to the endtoday and every other dayI hope you'll feel admiredI …

At the Beach

~ inspired by Jan Melnik ~ surfsong soothes my ears salty sweetness fills my nostrils whimsical breezes play upon my skin vivid pastels seduce my eyes, while your forge of creation mellows, sinks, and sleeps beneath the Earth Oh Mother Divine Gaia omnipotent, your sublime choreography whisks me away - if only briefly - from …

She Sings my Body Electric

~~ for lovers everywhere ~~ she sang my body electric whenthat frosty January daybefore she slowly walked awayshe gave her phone number to meand to a date she did agree! two teenagers, we rode the bus -so many things we did discuss! I surely hoped in two weeks’ timeshe'd be my first real Valentine she …

The Angry Giant Zucchini

I hate you my little brother and sister zukes you're so cute, tidy, green, unblemished you seduce the gardeners winking your stupid orange blossoms whispering "Pick me! Pick me!" and then, enchanted, they'll carefully pluck you gently hold you slowly turn you around smiling, admiring cooing as if you’re some kind of newborn baby “Look …

Farewell, 007

alas, we've lost Sean ConneryThe Man Who Would be Bondepitome of braveryhe was well-brained and brawned by trading on his handsome lookshe'd bed a bonny lassand then he'd go and vanquish crooksand do it with such class when Bond would chase bad guys with zealGoldfinger... Dr No...it wasn't long before we'd feelthe thrills and humour …

I Can’t Breathe, Momma…

~ for George Floyd ~ breathing how miraculous! ever-present, reliable, obedient quietly keeping us all alive inhale, exhale, inhale exhale rhythmical, dependable feeding us with life-giving oxygen removing carbon dioxide in and out, in and out in and out I can't breathe... Momma!... Momma!... I can't... breathe... I'm... through... .... ... .. . Dear George …

The Birds of Aleppo

by Paul Raworth Bennett ~~~ a tale of hope, for the people of Aleppo ~~~ Before the summer of 2011, thousands of different songbirds - swallows, warblers, wrens, chickadees, nuthatches - would soothe and serenade the citizens of Aleppo, a Syrian city of almost 5 million. And while the sun twice daily splashed yellow and …

Supermarket Swingers

Six hunky, well-ripened avocados, nine hot young chilies and three smartly-pressed cloves of garlic seeking fresh, fragrant shallots and tart, juicy lemons for discreet, no-strings-attached Cuisinart group encounters in an upscale kitchen in Layville's desirable Tenderloin district.We're pepper-friendly and love salty humour. You're chill, GMO-free, at least 18 hours post-harvest, and willing to practise safe …

To Rhyme is Divine

dismissive champions of free verseare wont to scorn and even curseus bards who like our poems to rhymeas ignorant of thoughts sublimebut unlike bingeing on YouTuberhyme makes us solve a Rubik's cubenot plastic squares of red and yellowbut grey matter, like hardened jelloyes rhyming schemes can lead astraythe messages we thought we'd saybut hanging in …

Galactic Diamonds

from deep within our laughing hearts we gathered the ancient winks of a million loving stars and the alchemist that is our passion melted them into diamonds which we threaded into a necklace of joy that encircles our common soul I will wear our gems with delight polish them with little surprises guard them with …

Ode to My Wheels

hey there, beautiful eyes! gorgeous, giant, round ringed by rubber eyeliner joined by steel tubes are you silently winking at me calling me seducing me yet again? you spin backwards counter-clockwise in invisible sockets dialing back my years you roll forwards chasing adventures pursuing discovery your spokes are two sets of eyelashes, fluttering at me …

A Love Sestina

~~ A Love Sestina ~~ the warmth of your sweet love does fill my yearning heart it burns within our kiss and sparkles in your smile such that the flow of time is gently put on hold together we will hold a crucible of love we'll stir it over time and forge a common heart …

Finally Learning to Fly

by Paul Raworth Bennett many years ago under sunny skies as a young eagle who hadn't learned to fly I watched with fascination another eagle, high overhead, soaring the blue commanding the thermals he landed before me offered a fresh-caught salmon which I devoured his eyes called my name instantly, we were friends idolizing this …

Yeasty Beast

(photo credit: Christina) (dedicated to Dick and Christina) by Paul Raworth Bennett Still in his dressing gown, Dick was hauling the blue box to the curb when his wife's voice burst from the kitchen window, shattering the morning calm. “Dick! Get in here, now!” Dropping the container in the driveway, he rushed back into the …

The Man I Admire

🙂 To hear this poem, use the player below. 🙂 by Paul Raworth Bennett I'm a middle-aged man who has learned over time Just what makes people tick, their rhythm and rhyme More than anyone else there’s a man I admire So I thought I’d describe him in case you inquire Well the first thing …

Private MacPhee

By Paul Raworth Bennett ~ for brave soldiers everywhere ~ He was a kind and loyal friend Who hailed from clan MacPhee And all the boys were jealous ‘cause He loved his girl Marie A lock of Marie's hair he kept Within a tiny box And in his heart were memories of Their kiss back …